MPG - lst Gen

[MasterGuns]

Is 37 mpg unreasonable when running 75 - 80 mph (and sometimes a little beyond)? This is one up with full bags, trunk and other stuff bunjied on. This is the mileage I get with both my 89 (an 86 with an 89 motor) and now my 92. I know I'd get better running a steady 60 but you just can run that slow here in N. Texas on any interstate; you'd get run over.

[Guest bodasefus]

I think 37 is a reasonable mpg running loaded at 75... I get 39 with no load, other than me... I just ran a tank with a half bottle of seafoam through and switched to full synthetic oil... I will see what that does...

[JohnT]

Someone was on just recently and with a "fine tune" of teh carbs nd such got into the high 40's. If I remember right even 2 up?

Crushes my mileage which is right in line with you guys.

[MasterGuns]

Someone was on just recently and with a "fine tune" of teh carbs nd such got into the high 40's. If I remember right even 2 up?

Crushes my mileage which is right in line with you guys.

 

 

Yeah; know what ya mean. I have a Prius that gets 50 mpg and thats running the a/c and that crushes the mpg of any of my bikes. So much for a bike being more economical; that is unless you ride something other than a lst gen. Used to have a Harley that got a little more than 50 if I was taking it easy but I never just take it easy. One other point I'd like to add....I've had three brand spanking new lst Gens, an 86, an 88 and a 91 and none of them got the mileage some here claim they get. Just saying.

[Kirby]

It's not about the mileage man, it's the RIDE! Unless you're dipping into the low 30's or even into the 20's just enjoy the ride. You can't get that from any cage.

[Squidley]

Herb,

 

Thats about normal, crap gas and as windy as it gets here in Texas 37 is reasonable. All my Ventures, 9 of them now, got between 38 and 42 depending on how I was with the throttle. I know some say they get 50, but I have never seen that on any of my bikes ever. I personally think it's a combination of taking off easy and keeping it under 70 mph and if you can get REAL gasoline without ethanol.....

[JohnT]

It's not about the mileage man, it's the RIDE! Unless you're dipping into the low 30's or even into the 20's just enjoy the ride. You can't get that from any cage.

:sign yeah that:Amen Brother I get to scrape foot pegs on the VR. Start scraping side parts on my Taurus and things are bad.

[Howard B]

Maybe I am babying my 1st gen, but I consistantly get between 45-50 the way I ride. No fast starts, no high speed runs, I enjoy just cruising. It could be that the nearest freeway is 3 hours away. I just wish I knew how to start it on cold mornings. Around 30 or below. No garage.

[bongobobny]

Yup! I've noticed speed on either Generation affects the MPG more than 1 up vs 2 up. Towing a trailer also brings down the MPG at any speed. Unless you can get gas without corn squeezins added I would say 37 is doing fine at "real" highway speeds...

[Condor]

Running 75-80mph in 5th gear and you're bucking wind and lugging the engine. 37-38mpg is about all you can expect. But what the hey... it's fun. Now try taking a 150 mile ride in the twisties, compression braking into the curves, powering out, and using 2nd-3rd-4th gears. Stay out of 5th. Run the whole tank and fill it and do the math. I bet you're gonna be surprised at what kind of MPG's you got. These V4's love high RPMs, and are a woose in low end torque. So don't lug'm....

[oldfaithful]

Just to add another data point...

 

I get right around 40 mpg almost all the time, no matter how I ride. Cruising steady or blasting thru the hills. By the way, I have done the spacer/shim mod on my slide needles and my mileage stayed the same.